In heaven and in my soul…
Thursday we visited the Thai women's prison for the second time, and guess what? We gained 15 new sisters in Christ. Hallelujah, praise the Lord! The Lord definitely did not fail to show up today, and we barely even had to ask. Lately, our team has been in a season of waiting. Praying, seeking, and waiting expectingly for God to move in crazy ways. And He hasn't failed to offer us countless opportunities to love on students and different people who don't know Him, and we've even presented the Gospel a handful of times. We've seen His love spread and bring joy, but honestly there have just been many seeds planted and we haven't seen much fruit. But that morning Jesus captured our hearts again, blessing us with a glimpse of the harvest.
Pastor kept telling us that it was a miracle that we were even able to return to the women's prison, because normally you are only allowed in once a month. But Jesus found us a way back in there. We didn't even really have a plan for what we were going to do once we got there, but we just prayed before we went in and literally God just took it from there. With Pastor translating, Karson and Arielle shared parts of their testimony, Kaitlyn shared the gospel and all I did was tell them that they could receive Jesus and be free today. We simply asked if anyone would like to, and after Pastor finished 15 women stood up and walked up to where we were standing. We were praying that there would just be one! The five of us each got to pray with them individually, and freedom fell on that place! And I have 15 brand new, redeemed, freed, chosen, and beloved sisters in Christ! My team and I literally left the prison dancing.
So much joy comes when we are reminded how sovereign, faithful, and near our God is. When we just choose to trust Him, His promises always prove true. In Isaiah 55:10-11, it says:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
And this was proven so true these past few weeks. None of the ministry we have done while in Chanthaburi has been in vain, even if we were only planting seeds because God promises that the words we have spoken and the love we have given will accomplish the purpose that He has for them! It was so encouraging to see this in the prison that day, to be reminded how lovely our Creator is. I hope this has encouraged you as much as it encouraged my team, and that you continually our drawn closer to our maker!
